Cultural Heritage Conservation

Una primera aproximación a la normativa en materia de conservación del patrimonio cultural de México

by Isabel Medina-González

Service robots for restoration of goods of cultural heritage

by Michela Cigola

Ceccarelli M., Cigola M., Service robots for restoration of goods of cultural heritage in Service Robots and Robotics: Design and Application edited by di M. Ceccarelli, published by IGI Global Hershey, Pennsylvania (USA) 2012; pp. 213-228. ISBN 978-1-4666-0291-5 (hardcover) - ISBN 978-1-4666-0292-2 (ebook); DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-0291-5.ch012

Preservation and benefit of goods of Cultural Heritage need careful activity of survey and restoration that can be... more Preservation and benefit of goods of Cultural Heritage need careful activity of survey and restoration that can be understood as service tasks for suitable robotic systems. New service robots can be conceived once the specificity of the application in Cultural Heritage area for architectural goods is carefully considered both with technical aspects and from operators viewpoints. In particular, in this chapter no technical aspects are also discussed as fundamental for the acceptance and use by no-technical operators in the new field of service robot application for survey and restoration of architectonic goods of Cultural Heritage value. Examples are illustrated from authors’ experience with the aim to stress the problems and challenges in applications for service robotic systems in Cultural Heritage frames.

The Middle Eastern Geodatabase for Antiquities (MEGA): An Open Source GIS-Based Heritage Site Inventor y and Management System

by David Myers

Co-authored with Alison Dalgity. Published in Change Over Time,  Volume 2, Number 1, Spring 2012, pp. 32-57

The emergence of new digital technologies and rapidly spreading Internet access together present possibilities for... more The emergence of new digital technologies and rapidly spreading Internet access together present possibilities for widely accessible, Web-based national information systems for the inventory and management of heritage sites. The increasing development of open source software tools further provides that such systems may be purpose-built, adaptable, and extensible to the needs of specific situations, and that once developed they can be available to heritage authorities, which are often poorly funded, without associated licensing or upgrade fees.

Working collaboratively with the Jordanian Department of Antiquities (DoA), the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) and World Monuments Fund (WMF) have developed MEGA-Jordan as a tool to inventory, monitor, and help conserve and manage the thousands of archaeological sites in Jordan. MEGA-Jordan allows DoA officials to address needs such as infrastructure and development control and the development of national and regional research strategies. MEGA-Jordan is Web based, bilingual (Arabic-English), and was developed using state-of-the-art and open source information technologies. It was designed to be modular and easily extensible, allowing it to evolve with the DoA's changing institutional requirements and to be adapted by other countries. The MEGA-Jordan system is available online at www.megajordan.org. Work on an Iraq version of MEGA is slated to begin after the Jordanian system is fully deployed, and will include the system's expansion to contain data for the protection of historic buildings. The GCI and WMF plan to subsequently make the system available for adaptation by other countries.

Composition-related corrosion in archaeological copper alloys: preliminary investigations on a coin hoard from the Fidenae territory, in: Metal 07 (Proceedings of Interim meeting of the ICOM-CC Metal WG Amsterdam, 17-21 September 2007), Amsterdam 2007, pp. 38-44

by Francesco di Gennaro

Co-authored with L. Campanella, O. Colacicchi Alessandri, M. Ferretti, S.H. Plattner

Trattamento e restauro dei materiali d’amianto di natura archeologica, in: Kermes 72, 2008, pp. 64-66

by Francesco di Gennaro

Co-authored with D. Ferro, A. Marconi, L. Masato, I.A. Rapinesi

AVAYALIVE ENGAGE FACT SHEET

by Joe Rigby

Avaya web.alive is an online, immersive collaboration environment that lets you communicate with others as though you... more Avaya web.alive is an online, immersive collaboration environment that lets you communicate with others as though you were face-to-face. Avaya web.alive is a browser plug-in that integrates with your local network, security and business software tools. Knowledge flows freely-from instructor to students, peer to peer,
coach to team-all while presentations and materials display. MellaniuM is leveraging web.alive to be capable of both importing all 3D formats with photorealistic textures and laser scanned items and monuments for archaeologicaland educational use.

Whatever else happened to the ancient Egyptian quarries? An essay on their destiny in modern times

by Per Storemyr

Geological Survey of Norway Special Publication,12, 2009

Through selected case studies, this essay describes the fate of ancient Egyptian stone quarries over the last 50... more Through selected case studies, this essay describes the fate of ancient Egyptian stone quarries over the last 50 years. It focuses on the many-sided causes of destruction and neglect of these important archaeological sites in an attempt at raising key conservation issues. Such issues are particularly related to how to deal with modern development, such as urban growth and quarrying, which are expected to remain the largest threat for the ancient quarries also in the future.

Una “doverosa ma non convinta obbedienza”: la protezione del patrimonio artistico a Pisa durante la seconda guerra mondiale

by Elena Franchi

in “Polittico”, 2, 2003, pp. 233-252

Vertrauen und Misstrauen: die schwierigen Beziehungen zwischen der Italienischen Sozialrepublik und dem ‚Kunstschutz‘. Einige umstrittene Fälle

by Elena Franchi

in "Kunsthistoriker im Krieg. Deutscher Militärischer Kunstschutz in Italien 1943 –1945", Christian Fuhrmeister, Johannes Griebel, Stephan Klingen and Ralf Peters, eds, Köln, Böhlau Verlag, 2012, pp. 111-128

Die Denkmäler Italiens und der Krieg: Präventiver Schutz, Erste Hilfe und Instandsetzungen. Die Rolle der Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives Subcommission in Italien während des Zweiten Weltkriegs

by Carlotta Coccoli

in "Kunsthistoriker im Krieg – Deutscher Militärischer Kunstschutz in Italien 1943–1945", edited by Christian Fuhrmeister, Johannes Griebel, Stephan Klingen und Ralf Peters, Wien - Köln – Weimar, Böhlau, 2012, pp. 75-92.

Alle origini (romane) di Udine. La “tabella” di San Pietro

by Gabriele Caiazza

published in: “Bollettino del Gruppo Archeologico Aquileiese”, XV, 15, dicembre 2005, pp. 47-54

In the annual bulletin of Aquileia Archaeological Group of 2005, among the scientifici papers is a short essay on one... more In the annual bulletin of Aquileia Archaeological Group of 2005, among the scientifici papers is a short essay on one of the most interesting but not so studied sites in the urban area of Udine: the medieval “tavella Sancti Petri”, chosen for the initial local settlement of the Carmelites (they later moved inside the city walls and thus started the events of the parish of Our Lady of Mount Caramel); then site of the Moretti-Facchini cottage who was also well known as a ‘mine’ of Roman archaeological finds; at last - unfortunately - shattered by a recent lotting.

Fra i contributi scientifici comparsi nel bollettino annuale del Gruppo Archeologico Aquileiese del 2005, trova posto un breve saggio su un sito fra i più interessanti e meno studiati del territorio di Udine: la medievale “tavella Sancti Petri”, prescelta per il primo insediamento locale dei Carmelitani (poi inurbatisi, dando inizio alle vicende dell’attuale parrocchia del Carmine), quindi sede di quel villino Moretti-Facchin che fu anche nota ‘miniera’ di reperti archeologici d’età romana, infine – purtroppo - sconvolta da una recente lottizzazione.

“Tiaris” di cjase. Terrecotte di casa

by Gabriele Caiazza

published in: Ceramiche, terrecotte, terraglie & porcellane, “Quaderni del Museo di Storia Contadina”, 5, ed. M. Mauro, Pagnacco (UD) 2006, pp. 7-11

From 20 May to 29 October 2006, the Museum of Rural History in Fontanabona of Pagnacco (Udine) is hosting the... more From 20 May to 29 October 2006, the Museum of Rural History in Fontanabona of Pagnacco (Udine) is hosting the exhibition "Faience, crockery, pottery & porcelain": so the fifth Notebook has the purpose to support the visitor in the expository path, but also the aim to catalog an important section of the museum assets, consisting of household goods obtained by processing of the clay. This short essay brings the reader back to the past where the kitchen was the main room of the friulian 'cjase' (home), including earthenware of every type, shape, size and function: unforgettable 'remnants' of a past much closer than you might think…

Dal 20 maggio al 29 ottobre del 2006 il Museo di Storia Contadina di Fontanabona di Pagnacco (Udine) ospita la mostra “Ceramiche, terrecotte, terraglie & porcellane”: il quinto Quaderno nasce allo scopo di affiancare il visitatore nel percorso espositivo, ma anche con l’intento di catalogare una sezione importante del patrimonio museale, composta di oggetti domestici ottenuti dalla lavorazione dell’argilla. Nel breve saggio, al lettore si propone un ritorno al tempo in cui la cucina era l’ambiente principale della 'cjase' friulana, fra stoviglie in terracotta d’ogni tipo, forma, dimensione e funzione: indimenticabili 'reperti' di un passato molto meno lontano di quanto s’immagini…

Gli “spazi” del “fare”: spunti di ricerca e problematiche da una doverosa riscoperta

by Gabriele Caiazza

published in: Conservare il passato (atti del convegno), “Bollettino del Gruppo Archeologico Aquileiese”, XVI, 16, dicembre 2006, pp. 125-134

The 2006 annual bulletin of Aquileia Archaeological Group contains the proceedings of the interregional symposium of... more The 2006 annual bulletin of Aquileia Archaeological Group contains the proceedings of the interregional symposium of archaeological groups "Preserve the Past", held in Aquileia on 25-26 November 2006 on the occasion of the XXV anniversary of the foundation of the same A.A.G. The essay "The 'Spaces' of 'Doing'. Research ideas and problems by a necessary rediscovery" reopens and extends the study "Issues of industrial archaeology in the Lower plain of Friuli" presented at the end of the second day (dedicated to "The historical researches of the G.A.A. on Aquileia and his territory") of the conference and concerning a wide-range survey on cultural heritage of industrial archaeology and agricultural landscape being studied under the Interreg project Italy-Slovenia 2000-2006 "The places of production and technological development in the thematic tourism".

Il bollettino annuale del Gruppo Archeologico Aquileiese del 2006 contiene gli atti del convegno interregionale di gruppi archeologici "Conservare il passato", svoltosi ad Aquileia il 25 e 26 novembre 2006 in occasione del XXV di costituzione dello stesso G.A.A. Il saggio "Gli 'spazi' del 'fare': spunti di ricerca e problematiche da una doverosa riscoperta" riprende e amplia la relazione "Problematiche di archeologia industriale nella Bassa" presentata a conclusione della seconda giornata del convegno (dedicata a "Le ricerche storiche del G.A.A. su Aquileia e il suo territorio") e riguardante un’indagine ad ampio raggio su beni culturali di archeologia industriale e del paesaggio agrario in corso nell’ambito del progetto Interreg Italia-Slovenia 2000-2006 "I luoghi della produzione e della valorizzazione tecnologica nell’ambito del turismo tematico".

Luoghi della produzione, luoghi della memoria

by Gabriele Caiazza

Post-faction (pp. 272-283) of "Spazi del fare. I luoghi della produzione tra la bassa pianura friulana, il Carso e l'Istria slovena" (ed. G. Caiazza) published in 2006 (2007) by Comune di Terzo di Aquileia (UD) for Interreg Project UE 2000-2006 Italia-Slovenjia "I luoghi della produzione e della valorizzazione tecnologica nell’ambito del turismo tematico / Ovrednotenje zgodovinske proizvodnje in tehnološke dediščine v smislu tematskega turizma"

Post-faction to the volume “Spazi del fare / Območja tradicionalnih dejavnosti” (that is: "Spaces of... more Post-faction to the volume “Spazi del fare / Območja tradicionalnih dejavnosti” (that is: "Spaces of Making"), catalogue of the exhibition that illustrated the main historical-architectonic buildings built for productive purposes that were considered in the European project "The places of production and technological innovation in the thematic tourism": to conclude the book, this essay sums up the main categories, continuing and widening the analysis developed for the exhibition. The main research questions are then re-discussed, stimulating scholars, administrators and common people to re-appraise, re-use and re-invent this historical heritage, perishable beyond all appearance: because it is urgent to saving those “things” that today must be considered as rarities, possibly making them available for a thematic cultural tourism, as it is already done in other parts of Europe.

Postfazione al volume "Spazi del fare / Območja tradicionalnih dejavnosti", catalogo della mostra che ha illustrato le principali emergenze storico-architettoniche costruite a fini produttivi che sono state prese in considerazione per il progetto europeo "I luoghi della produzione e dell’innovazione tecnologica nell’ambito del turismo tematico”: per concludere il libro, questo saggio riassume le principali categorie, proseguendo e ampliando l’analisi sviluppata per la mostra. Le principali istanze di ricerca sono poi ri-discusse, per stimolare studiosi, amministratori e gente comune a ri-valutare, ri-utilizzare e re-inventare questo patrimonio storico, deperibile al di là di ogni apparenza: perché è urgente salvare quei "beni" che oggi devono essere considerati come delle rarità, eventualmente rendendoli disponibili per un turismo culturale tematico, come già avviene in altre parti d'Europa.

1909: la scoperta

by Gabriele Caiazza

published in: "Ecce Mosaico! 1909-2009 centenario della scoperta del pavimento musivo della basilica di Aquileia" (atti convegno Aquileia, 20 giugno 2009), “Bollettino del Gruppo Archeologico Aquileiese”, XIX, 19, dicembre 2009, pp. 23-41 [preprint]

Saturday, June 20th 2009 the Archaeological Group of Aquileia organized a symposium one hundred years after the... more Saturday, June 20th 2009 the Archaeological Group of Aquileia organized a symposium one hundred years after the accidental discovery of the great early-Christian mosaic floor, which since then visitors can enjoy again in the patriarchal Cathedral: the annual bulletin of the association is entitled "Ecce Mosaico! 1909-2009 Centenary of the discovery of the mosaic floor of the basilica of Aquileia" and contains the Conference Proceedings including the essay "1909: the Discovery", in which the author reconstructs the chronicle of those days of the early twentieth century, following the gradual re-emergence of the mosaic and providing a summary of the first studies on the magnificent handwork

Sabato 20 giugno 2009 si è svolto il convegno organizzato dal Gruppo Archeologico Aquileiese a cento anni dalla fortuita scoperta del grande mosaico pavimentale paleocristiano, che da allora è di nuovo ammirabile nella cattedrale patriarcale: nel bollettino annuale dell’associazione, intitolato “Ecce Mosaico! 1909-2009 centenario della scoperta del pavimento musivo della basilica di Aquileia”, sono contenuti gli atti del convegno, fra cui il saggio “1909: la scoperta”, nel quale si ricostruisce la cronaca di quei giorni del primo Novecento, seguendo il graduale riemergere del mosaico e riassumendo i primi studi sul grandioso manufatto

Milebrent tyritjære. Tekniske egenskaper og et historisk korrekt vedlikehold

by Inger Marie Egenberg

Paper in Norwegian about the development of knowledge in a Pine tar project managed by the Directorate for Cultural Heritage in Norway, 1991-2004

Contemporary Conflict, Nationalism, and the Destruction of Cultural Property During Armed Conflict: A Theoretical Framework

by Sigrid Van der Auwera

journal of confl ict archaeology, Vol. 7 No. 1, January, 2012, 49–65

During armed conflict, cultural property can be intentionally destroyed or
looted. Despite the development of... more During armed conflict, cultural property can be intentionally destroyed or
looted. Despite the development of many preventive measures in recent
decades, this phenomenon has not observably decreased. The literature on
cultural property destruction during armed conflict fails to interpret this
trend within a broader theoretical framework. Therefore, this article links the
empirical knowledge on destruction of cultural property to contemporary
theories of war and nationalism. This is achieved through an analysis of
documents and literature. Our main conclusion is that the identity-bound
character of (or role of nationalism in) contemporary wars is linked to an
increased incidence of cultural property destruction. Moreover, factors such
as illicit war economies, the prevalence of contemporary wars in weak or failed
states, and the multiplicity of actors engaged, contribute to the incidence of
intentional cultural property destruction and looting. These insights can contribute
to an improved understanding of the phenomenon and, consequently,
to an enhanced cultural property destruction prevention strategy.
keywords cultural property, armed conflict, nationalism, identity politics,
intentional destruction, looting
During armed conflict, cultural property is under serious threa

«Il custode constatava la scomparsa»: furti, alienazioni e recuperi di opere d’arte medievali a Pisa negli anni Quaranta

by Elena Franchi

in “Predella”, Primitivi pisani fuori contesto, 27, 2010, pp. 137-151

Dalla Mostra della scultura pisana del Trecento, nel 1946, scompare un frammento del fonte battesimale di Tino di... more Dalla Mostra della scultura pisana del Trecento, nel 1946, scompare un frammento del fonte battesimale di Tino di Camaino; un’acquasantiera romanica passa dalla chiesa di San Pietro Belvedere, nel comune di Capannoli, al mercato antiquario romano; nel 1941 il Conservatorio di Sant’Anna è costretto ad alienare le proprie collezioni: sono alcuni dei casi presi in considerazione in quest’articolo.

Conservation Before Conservation at the Shelburne Museum: The Doll Collection

by Nancie Ravenel

Characterization of 17th-19th century metal threads from the colonial Andes

by Vanessa Muros

Co-authored with S. Warmlander, D. A. Scott and J. M. Theile

In a detailed study of South American metal threads, samples of metal embroidery and decorative metal leaves found on... more In a detailed study of South American metal threads, samples of metal embroidery and decorative metal leaves found on colonial Andean ecclesiastic objects have been investigated in order to characterize their composition, manufacture, and deterioration. The samples were examined with a range of methods, including optical microscopy, x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results show that the studied metal threads are made from gilt silver, or brass- or silver-coated copper, with elemental compositions and manufacturing techniques similar to metal threads found in Europe and Asia. Since all metal threads so far encountered in South America date to after the arrival of Europeans, it has been suggested that they were first introduced to the continent by the Spaniards. Although it cannot be determined whether the analyzed metal threads were imported or locally manufactured, the similarity to European metal threads suggests that the examined samples were produced according to the European tradition, without any local Andean modifications to the design patterns or manufacture processes. This strengthens the hypothesis that no tradition of metal thread making existed in South America in precolonial times.